Orbital barrel finishing machine



March 31, 1970 J. F. HARPER 3,

ORBITAL BARREL FINISHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Shed 1 ile'i Feb. 1, 1967 I NVENTOR. JOHN F. HARPER ATTORNEY fie, 1

March 31, 1970 J. F. HARPER ORBITAL BARREL FINISHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 1, 1967 I INVEN'I'OR. JOHN F. HARPER ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,503,157 ORBITAL BARREL FINISHING MACHINE John F. Harper, Ames Hollow Road, Portland, Conn. 06480 Filed Feb. 1, 1967, Ser. No. 613,212 Int. Cl. B24b 31/02 US. 'Cl. 51164 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The apparatus of this invention includes finishing barrels with continuously exposed open tops and a frame provided with sling mounting means serving to support the barrels thereon for orbital movement about a fixed axis with each barrel being counter-rotatable about its own axis The apparatus further includes a feeding device mounted on the frame and in continuous communication with the barrels for selectively charging the same during movement thereof.

The present invention generally relates to machines for polishing or finishing the surfaces of articles of different sizes and shapes and particularly concerns surface finishing machines of a so-called orbital type for effecting a finishing action by centrifugal force.

A principal object of the invention is to provide an improved surface finishing machine which is particularly suited for regulating the action of the abrasive material or media acting on a workpiece during a high speed operation in accordance with variable demands of different surface finishing applications.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above described type which is of notably simplified, low cost construction and which utilizes a minimum number of parts while eliminating any need for fluids seals, glands and similar parts heretofore associated with apparatus of this type.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved high production surface finishing machine having a unique, essentially maintenance-free, barrel mounting arrangement which eifects quick and easy barrel replacement in a minimum amount of time.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which is exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth, and the scope of the invention is indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view, partly broken away, showing a preferred embodiment of a surface finishing machine constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partly in section and partly broken away, of the machine of FIG. 1.

Referring now in detail to the drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, it will be understood that while the machine of this invention may be adapted for various uses, typical applications are the deburring and radiusing of the edges of a wide variety of stampings, forgings and machined components including gears, sprockets, levers, slides and the like and in polishing and finishing the surfaces of articles as described in my United States Patent No. 3,013,365, issued Dec. 19, 1961, and entitled, Free Grain Polishing Process and Apparatus.

The machine 10 includes a stationary base assembly 12 having an upright fixed post 14 providing a common vertical axis of rotation for a horizontally disposed annular rotor or turntable 16 and a supply head 18.

3,503,157 Patented Mar. 31, 1970 Centrally fixed to the turntable 16 is a collar 20 supported for rotation by a main bearing assembly 22 seated upon an enlarged lower end portion 24 of the post 14. A depending annular flange portion 26 is secured on the outer periphery of the turntable 16 and a suitably grooved for receiving a resilient, endless drive belt 28 drivingly connected to a variable pitch pulley or sheave 30 carried on a downwardly extending output shaft 31 of a constant speed electric motor 12 which is fixed to a mounting bracket 33 supported on a vertical shaft 34 rigidly secured to the base assembly 12. The motor 32 and variable pitch pulley 30 provide a variable speed drive, in accordance with conventional techniques, for rotating the turntable 16 at preselectable speeds in a clockwise direction, e.g., as viewed in FIG. 1.

Two generally cylindrical finishing drums or barrels 36, 38 are spaced apart on opposite sides of the post 14 in a balanced arrangement with each barrel 36 and 38 closely positioned respectively between a pair of cylindrical bumper posts 40, 42 and 44, 46 mounted on the turntable 16 adjacent its outer periphery. The barrels 36, 38 are so mounted as to be capable of rotation about their own vertical axes independently of and in the opposite angular direction to the rotation of the turntable 16, and a unique barrel mounting arrangement is provided which eliminates the necessity of conventional rigid hearing assemblies susceptible to major maintenance problems encountered by bearing wear under long hard usage. Moreover, the barrel mounting arrangement of the invention is particularly suited to effect quick and easy changing of the barrels between finishing cycles.

More specifically, the barrels 36, 38 in the illustrated embodiment are supported for floating movement relative to the turntable 16 such as by a ball 48 centrally staked to the bottom of barrel 36 for engaging a bearing plate 50 fixed upon the turntable 16. A similar floating bearing support is provided in the bottom of barrel 38, preferably with barrel 38 being positioned somewhat below barrel 36.

By this arrangement, the barrels may be readily mounted for removable sling rotation by a pair of resilient, endless V-belts 52, 54 and 56, 58 fitted into circumferentially extending grooves directly formed on barrels 36 and 38 adjacent their upper and lower axial ends. The V-belts are carried in vertically spaced relation by a central pulley hub 60 fitted onto and keyed to the upright post 14 of the base assembly 12. A suitable fastener member 61 is shown secured on the upper end of the post 14 and retaining the pulley hub 60 against axial displacement.

A pair of generally U-shaped brackets 62 and 64 are provided for limiting inward radial movement of the barrels 36 and 38 toward the pulley hub 60. The brackets 62 and 64 each have a horizontal base portion 66 and 68 engaging the turntable 16, and it will be understood that the base portions 66, 68 radially extend through the above described bearing plates of the barrels 36, 38 for sliding radial movement of a predetermined amount whereby inner upright arm portions 70, 72 of the brackets 62, 64 serve as stops for the barrels 36, 38. In addition, the brackets 62, 64 are shown having outer upright arm portions 74, 76 engageable with an outermost portion of the barrels 36, 38 for shifting the brackets 62, 64 outwardly when the barrels 36, 38 are moved radially outwardly into their illustrated operating positions from a stationary starting position adjacent the inner arm portions 7 0, 72.

It will be understood that the finishing barrels 36, 38 are preferably rubber lined and are normally preloaded through top openings 78, 80 with articles to be finished, together with small particles of solid abrasive material in either a dry state or wet abrasive media for polishing and finishing the surfaces of the articles in a a we lknown manner.

After the preloaded barrels are properly installed for sling rotation in the machine with each barrel 36, 38 in its stationary starting position adjacent the inner arm portion 70, 72 of its respective bracket 62, 64, the motor 32 is energized and turning force is imparted by the drive belt 28 to the turntable 16. Rotation of turntable 16 causes the barrels 36, 38 to float radially outwardly of their stationary starting position to an operating position illustrated in the drawings, while the bumper posts 40, 42 and 44, 46 constrain the barrels 36 and 38 for orbital movement about the post 14 simultaneously in unison with the turntable 16. It will be seen that outward radial movement of the barrels 36 and 38 is limited by the V-belts 52, 54 and 56, 58.

The above described sling mounting arrangement, wherein the V-belts carried by the pulley hub 60 are in direct frictional engagement with the barrels 36, 38, effects counter-rotation of the barrels about their own individual axes of rotation in the counterclockwise direction as the barrels revolve about the post 14 in a clockwise orbit as viewed in FIG. 1, thereby to effect dual gravity forces on the contents of the barrels 36, 38. As described in the aforementioned US. patent, the rotation of each barrel about its own axis and the high gs created by the centrifugal forces of rotation about the post 14 combine to provide a relatively slow, caterpillar treadlike movement of the centrifugally compacted abrasive material relative to each barrel as fully described in the referenced US. patent. Thus, a highly effective finishing action is effected on the surfaces and edges of articles within the centrifugally compacted abrasive in the barrels 36, 38.

The operating speed of the machine 10 is preselected in accordance with the demands of a particular polishing or finishing operation by means of the previously mentioned variable speed drive for the turntable 16. Proper tensioning of the drive belt 28 is controlled by a hand adjustment lever 82 secured at one end to the previously mentioned mounting bracket 33 of the motor 32, and a knob 84 is mounted on an opposite end of the lever 82 for pivoting the mounting bracket 33 and the motor assembly about a vertical pivot provided by shaft 34. The lever 82 is shown extending through a slot 86 in a fixed panel '88, and the slot 86 has a plurality of suitably spaced notches formed therein to receive and hold the lever 82 in an adjusted position for selectively effecting a controlled tension on the drive belt 28 and the desired pitch diameter of the variable pitch pulley 30 to achieve the necessary belt speed from the constant speed motor 32 and produce the selected g force in the barrls 36, 38.

The panel 88 is fixed to and projects outwardly of an annular wall 90 secured to the base assembly 12 in concentric relation to the post 14 to surround the turntable 16 in outwardly spaced relation thereto, the wall 90 preferably being of sufficient height whereby a radially inwardly projecting upper flange portion 91 extends above the level of the barrels 36, 38 for minimizing splash-out from the barrels 36, 38.

By virtue of the above described structural arrangement, the finishing barrels 36, 38 are particularly suited to be charged from the previously mentioned supply head 18 with suitable liquid media, soap, lubricants and the like, fresh abrasive material or mixtures thereof, as desired, during operation of the machine 10 without any lost machine time whatsoever.

The supply head 18 includes a cup-shaped hopper 92 coaxially mounted above the post 14 by rigid straps 94, 96 depending from the closed bottom of hopper 92 and fixed to the turntable 16. The open top of the hopper 92 preferably is provided with an annular lip portion 98 projecting downwardly beyond the inner periphery of its side wall for tunneling liquid media, abrasive material and the like into the hopper 92 and for preventing it from being thrown out during high speed operation. Rigid discharge tubes 100, 102 are shown attached to diametrically opposed lower side Wall portions of the hopper 92, and the discharge tubes 100, 102 extend outwardly to the open tops 78, of the barrels 36, 38 for establishing continuous communication between the supply head 18 and the barrels 36, 38, irrespective of Whether the machine 10 is operating, to readily introduce additional material through the continuously exposed open tops 78, 80 of the barrels 36, 38 as desired during a particular finishing cycle.

It now be seen that the above described machine provides a flow-through feature whereby the finishing action may be varied from one surface removal application to the next by adjustment of the variable speed drive and the flow rate of liquid media, e.g., from the supply head 18. In this regard, the particle size of the abrasive materials can be regulated in accordance with a desired application by controlling the operating speed and the flow rate such that by an increased flow rate, e.g., the abrasive material within the barrels 36, 38 may be removed through the open tops 78, 80 and new materials introduced from the supply head 18 as desired.

To further facilitate handling of the barrels, each discharge tube 100, 102 is pivotally mounted on the supply head 18 whereby they may be individually swung upwardly in a vertical plane from their illustrated operative positions prior to the removal and replacement of the barrels 36, 38.

In addition, suitable belt holder brackets 104 and 106 are desirably mounted on the turntable 16 radially outwardly of the barrels 36 and 38 for releasably retaining the V-belts and to assist in maintaining them in proper position upon changing the barrels at the end of a finishing cycle. Belt retainers 108, 110 are also shown secured on the outer arm portions 74, 76 of the U-shaped brackets 62, 64 for cooperating with the above noted belt holder brackets such that barrels may be removed and new ones installed, preferably preloaded, in a minimal amount of time for conditioning the machine 10 for the next finishing cycle.

A surface finishing machine constructed in accordance with this invention readily provides for top feeding of the barrels during the operation of the machine for regulating the finishing action without any lost production time in a controlled high production operation. In addition, the disclosed sling rotation of the barrels is particularly suited for quick and easy barrel replacement while being free of any major maintenance requirements. The above described construction is of notable simplicity and incorporates a minimum number of parts for long reliable service Without requiring any rigid bearing assemblies, gaskets, watertight seals and similar parts associated with conventional apparatus of this type.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modifications and adaptations of the structure above described will become readily apparent without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a surface finishing machine of the type having a stationary frame and a rotary finishing barrel supported thereon for orbital movement in one angular direction about a first axis to impart a first centrifugal force on contents of the barrel, the improvement comprising sling mounting means carried by the frame and engageable with the barrel for supporting the same for radial movement relative to the first axis, said sling mounting means including an endless continuous drive member limiting radial displacement of the barrel from a stationary starting position upon orbital movement thereof While causing the barrel to rotate continuously in the opposite angular direction sufiiciently to impart a second force on contents thereof to modify the effect of the first centrifugal force.

2. The machine of claim 1 further having a hub mounted on the frame in coaxial relation to the first axis, and wherein said sling mounting means includes an endless resilient belt carried by the hub and the barrel for effecting outward radial displacement from said stationary starting position and a controlled continuous rotation of the barrel in said opposite angular direction in response to orbital movement of the barrel about the hub in said one angular direction.

3. The machine of claim 1 wherein the first axis is vertically disposed and the barrel is supported for orbital movement about the first axis in a generally horizontal plane, and wherein the improvement further comprises feeding means rotatably supported on the frame for rotary movement in unison with the orbital movement of the barrel about the first axis, said feeding means being in continuous communication with the barrel for charging the same during movement thereof.

4. The improvement recited in claim 1 wherein said sling mounting means is removably attachable directly to the barrel for facilitating its removal and the replacement thereof.

5. The improvement as recited in claim 1 further including a driven rotor mounted on the frame for rotation about the first axis in a generally horizontal plane, said rotor having means thereon supporting the barrel for orbital movement in said one angular direction substantially in unison with the rotor while permitting radial displacement of the barrel and counter-rotation thereof about its own vertical axis in said opposite angular direction.

6. The improvement as recited in claim 2 wherein a continuously exposed open top is provided in the barrel, and wherein feeding means is rotatably supported on the frame in continuous communication with said open top of the barrel irrespective of its position relative to the frame for charging the barrel during rotation thereof.

7. The improvement as recited in claim 5 wherein the barrel includes a continuously exposed open top, and wherein a receptacle is secured to the rotor in coaxial relation to the first axis, and a tubular member is mounted on the receptacle and extends outwardly thereof to connect the same with the open top of the barrel for charging the barrel during movement thereof.

8. A surface finishing machine comprising a stationary frame, a driven rotor horizontally mounted on the frame, a barrel having a continuously exposed open top supported on the rotor for orbital movement in unison therewith in one angular direction about a vertical rotational axis of the rotor for imparting a first centrifugal force on contents of the barrel, the barrel being rotatable about its own vertical axis in the opposite angular direction for imparting a second force on contents of the barrel to modify the effect of the first centrifugal force, and feeding means in continuous communication with the open top of the barrel irrespective of its position relative to the frame for selectively charging the barrel during movement thereof and said barrel being shaped to restrain and retain a charge therein subject to both of said centrifugal forces.

9. The machine of claim 8 wherein the feeding means is fixed to the rotor for concurrent rotary movement about the rotational axis thereof.

10. The machine of claim 8 wherein the frame includes an upright hub projecting above the rotor in coaxial alignment with the rotational axis thereof, and wherein the feeding means comprises a receptacle fixed to the rotor above the hub and a tubular member ex tending outwardly from the receptacle to the open top of the barrel for establishing communication therebetween.

11. The machine of claim 8 further including a variable speed drive connected to the rotor for transmitting rotary movement thereto in said one angular direction.

12. The machine of claim 8 wherein the frame further includes an upright hub projecting above the rotor in coaxial alignment with the rotational axis thereof, and wherein an endless resilient belt is carried by the hub and is removably atachable directly to the barrel for mounting the same for sling rotation whereby the barrel revolves in said opposite angular direction about its own axis responsive to orbital movement of the barrel in said one angular direction about the hub.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 749,104 1/ 1904 Schoenefeldt 233-17 1,339,272 5/1920 Mauss 23325 3,094,818 6/1963 Price 51-164 HAROLD D. WHITEHEAD, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

